Series Comparison Tests - Analytic Geometry and Calculus II | Lecture 46

In this lecture we introduce two comparison tests for determining the convergence or divergence of a series. The methods rely on employing a series known to converge or diverge, and showing that it can be compared (in the sense of the presented theorems) to a given series whose convergence is unknown. The advantage of these comparison methods is that we can use relatively simple series, such as geometric or telescoping series, to determine if significantly more complicated series converge or diverge. We illustrate these techniques with a number of illustrative examples.

This course is taught by Jason Bramburger for George Mason University.

Course Topics and Goals: At the end of the semester, students should be able to solve various geometry and physics problems that are modelled with definite integrals, use techniques to evaluate integrals, understand infinite series and power series, and be able to identify and graph conic sections and basic parameter and polar curves.